Why Do You Try To Make Money Online?

22 replies
If you have read some of my past posts you might know I've been working with local business clients for many years now building websites, databases, etc. In general using Information Technology to help their businesses.

Anyway, today I met with another offline client to discuss their needs and how I could help them.

The meeting lasted about an hour and I walked away with a check for $500. I didn't ask for any money. The guy just wrote the check and handed it to me and said can we get started with this?

Sometimes I find myself thinking about this and wondering why do I spend time working online building sites when it seems so much simpler and quicker to make money working with offline businesses.

Of course, the main reasons I do it are for (1) the challenge and (2) the residual income "make money while I sleep" aspect.

But sometimes I do wonder if it is the best use of my time. It almost seems like I'm going against the grain with my online efforts and making money is more difficult and more time consuming rather than easier.

Has anybody else noticed this?

Why do you spend so much time trying to build Internet properties and make money instead of just building a local business helping the businesses / organizations in your local community?

Do you do it for the challenge, the residual income, both or something else?

Do you do it because you have read so many sales pages you believe making money online is the easiest way to do it? I definitely do not believe this is true based on my own experience in working online and offline.
#make #money #online
  • Profile picture of the author Happy_Balance
    You are correct about the lack of "easy money."
    Online income is not something everyone should pursue.


    Why Do You Try To Make Money Online?

    1. Normal, boring jobs are not for me.
    2. Starting a business in the real world (generally) takes a large amount of start-up money.
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    Every Day Is Fun! :)

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  • Profile picture of the author Aandice Austin
    this is your way, and those are their ways
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  • Profile picture of the author brianboyer
    I do it because I love to work on my own time, I love creating new projects, I love managing different websites, and being able to work anywhere I go is a great benefit.
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    • Profile picture of the author lootbags2010
      I agree with you that it is a challenge to make money online and that makes it so much more interesting.
      I first became intrigued by the flexibility that it gave me when i got bit by the eBay bug 10 years ago. When I realized that I wanted to take this offline by finding customers to sell items for and students to teach how to sell, I discovered that I needed to learn as much as possible about Internet marketing.
      My new challenge has been finding ways to generate additional income from other online models and it never ceases to amaze me how many new ideas pop into my head.
      Learning new things and the challenge is the main thing that keeps me trying to make money
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  • Profile picture of the author Lainie
    It depends greatly on the type of business you're in or niche, because people are willing to pay for solutions to their problems or they will pay someone to perform a service on their behalf.

    I do it because of low over head costs, I can work when I want to, which means my schedule is flexible around my family life.

    I also like helping people and I can reach more people online.
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    • Profile picture of the author WorkSatisfaction
      I personally think that working online, like purchasing and renovating one's own home can be extremely rewarding as one feels such a sense of accomplishment when all the hard work pays off!

      I also love to be in charge of my schedule with no boss to check on everything I do and criticize instead of encourage.

      My favourite part however is that nothing is cast in stone and schedules can change without you having to ask permission from anyone to do so and I even get to work in my pj's on certain days without anyone complaining! Major bonus!
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  • Profile picture of the author rain21
    because it can save lot of time and easy to start
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  • Profile picture of the author GlobalMedia
    I have not spend much time in SEO, but it's true that online income is not for everyone. One need to be always alert so as to grab the right opportunity at the right time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nereah
    The challenge is thrilling, being able to work on different projects each time is what makes it exciting and am sure if you are the kind of person who does not like routine work, it is quite an experience. Hey you are not glued to it, of course you can work around your time and do offline work as well, that is why I just like it!
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    Planning an event

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  • Profile picture of the author checkm8
    I think that marrying off and online is where it is at. Especially if you offer a service for brick and mortar companies that haven't gotten with the times.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Miranda
    One word: FREEDOM
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    • Profile picture of the author justgr8
      Interesting query. I'm a firm believer in having multiple streams of income. I have about 4 businesses I'm doing right now. I admit the strictly offline one is currently bringing in the most money however it's also the most difficult. For the online aspect, I love the challenge, the residual income, working in my PJ's, and being able to do something to bring money in even when I'm snowed in (I don't get any money for staying home with my offline biz).
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  • Profile picture of the author SonnyAmaama
    Yes Online money is not easy to come around. You need to really put a sold business together and really serve the market you have chosen to enter better then your competitors.

    The reason why I do this is because of the possibilities that the internet has provided and continue to provide. If you look at it the internet has been around ever since 1954 or 57. I feel just now around 2001 to 2008 is when people really started making crazy amounts of money and started to see the power that the internet has.

    You are now able to reach millions of customers everyday with a lower cost then using tv, radio, magazine, news paper an other media's. But you need to create a sold business that brings value to your customers. There is no such thing as GET RICH QUICK in internet marketing. You need a sold business plan and execute that plan through marketing medias that will reach your target audience.

    75% of people in the U.S. use the internet, that is about 270 million people in america alone that uses the internet. there is still another 90 million people out there that don't even use the internet yet. American is the only economy that has that percent of people online. Just imagine the future if everyone in the world uses the internet. thats about a billion something potential customers.

    The big Corporations know the power the internet holds and continue to try to take it over. If you look at some of the interviews that google's ceo has done. He ask's the question, is it safe to give that kind of power to one person? We internet marketers today and in the past has done something that has not been thought possible. And we have a great future ahead of us. Only If the big corporations dont find a way to get rid of us because we are competition to them. We take some of there customers.

    Plus I am tried of taking orders from people that don't know what they are doing.

    PS: These are just numbers off the top of my head from research I did years ago. They could have changed.
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  • Profile picture of the author Shirlyn
    There are number of reasons, Internet is a thing which is available in every corner of the world and has large database of followers regarding different businesses so it might have possibilities that one online business can make you reach.
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    • Profile picture of the author BlueGlobeSeo
      It's because for some people, it doesn't sit well with them to be employees rather than the boss. Freedom and flexibility are few of the perks that office jobs can't give.
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      • Profile picture of the author SonnyAmaama
        Originally Posted by Shirlyn View Post

        There are number of reasons, Internet is a thing which is available in every corner of the world and has large database of followers regarding different businesses so it might have possibilities that one online business can make you reach.
        Yes, the reach is differently greater. But with that I feel moving more in to a niche would be much better. For example if you where in a small area that had about 1000 people in your town and you only sold one type of hammer. Your potential target audience would be a very small number of people looking for that type of hammer in your town.

        But if you took that same business and added an online strategy then your customer base or target audience will grow larger. You can do a search for the type of hammer/product you sell to see the demand for that product.

        Originally Posted by BlueGlobeSeo View Post

        It's because for some people, it doesn't sit well with them to be employees rather than the boss. Freedom and flexibility are few of the perks that office jobs can't give.
        Freedom and flexibility is something I was definitely looking for. The reason for me was because I knew where I wanted to go and being an employee was not going to get me there any time soon. I seen people that have been working for years as employees and got screwed at the end, we all seen it. So I decided that I need to go out and get it myself.
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  • Profile picture of the author Edie47
    Originally Posted by garben2011 View Post

    Why do you spend so much time trying to build Internet properties and make money instead of just building a local business helping the businesses / organizations in your local community?
    There are a number of people who make more money online than they do in local business. There are many reasons why one may be better than the other for each individual. What works for you may not work for others.

    The reason I prefer to work online is that for the last five years I have been the sole caregiver to my now 88-year-old father, and since last August, caregiver for my special-needs grandson (now 4) during the week - sometimes for very long hours.

    Working at home gives me the flexibility I need as I move through my day, and helps me supplement the income I have from other sources.

    After many years in the workplace, I can tell you working at home has been a pleasure although the benefits sure aren't as financially lucrative.
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  • Profile picture of the author Amrutg
    I have many things about online income, and hence trying to do something in that direction. Hope i would also earn something sometime.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Broberg
    I agree that offline work is so much easier when doing business.

    However, the internet represents freedom in my opinion. It's the cutting edge for new possibilities. I bought a car online. I got corporate jobs from the internet. At one time, I was even getting my groceries and shopping done online. If I needed to move, I simply sold my stuff on Craigslist. Then, I'd buy new stuff on Craigslist once I had a new place. I really just enjoy testing the internet's possibilities to the extreme.

    We can do things today that were never possible before. So, why shouldn't we?
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    • Profile picture of the author SonnyAmaama
      Originally Posted by John Broberg View Post

      I agree that offline work is so much easier when doing business.

      However, the internet represents freedom in my opinion. It's the cutting edge for new possibilities. I bought a car online. I got corporate jobs from the internet. At one time, I was even getting my groceries and shopping done online. If I needed to move, I simply sold my stuff on Craigslist. Then, I'd buy new stuff on Craigslist once I had a new place. I really just enjoy testing the internet's possibilities to the extreme.

      We can do things today that were never possible before. So, why shouldn't we?
      Agreed.......
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  • Profile picture of the author cluongo18
    I honestly do it because im a poor college student, and I need money. I am getting a degree in Web Design so it kind of ties in and gives me lots of experience. I get to learn TONS of stuff online that I can add to my resume when I look for a web design career job.

    Basically I can't find a "Real" job in todays economy, especially for a college student like me. Online doesn't discriminate, and it's ALWAYS hiring. You just need to work your ass off. I make a full-time "burger king" type salary online each month. It's actually really nice, and I feel a better sense of worth when I know I EARNED this money through hard work and not being told to flip a burger a certain way.

    So best summed up, I make money online because I need it.
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